Internal-combustion power unit having a rotor with pivoted impulse elements



2,435,476 T HAVING A FLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MENT 0. B. SUMMERS COMBUSTIONPOWER WITH PIVOTED IMP Filed April 3,

Feb. 3, 1948.

INTERNAL ROTOR 1943' o. B. SUMMERS INTERNAL-COMBUSTION POWER UNIT HAVINGA ROTOR WITH PIVOTED IMPULSE FLEMENT Filed April 3, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet2 I 3mm Patented Feb. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEINTERNAL-COMBUSTION POWER UNIT HAVING A ROTOR WITH PIVOTED IM- PULSEELEMENTS 12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to internal combustion power units, and moreparticularly to an internal combustion power unit of the type wherein arotor carries at its periphery one or more members, which will herein becalled pistons, that are movable into and out of one or more stationarycombustion chambers disposed at the periphery of the rotor, said pistonor pistons operating to transmit to the rotor impulses derived from thecombustion of fuel in said combustion chamber or chambers while thepiston or pistons are making an excursion through said chamber orchambers.

Various proposals have heretofore been made to construct an internalcombustion engine in the form of a rotor carrying a plurality of hingedpistons which are cam actuated for movement into and out of combustionchambers disposed in or around the periphery of the rotor. Devices ofthis type as heretofore proposed have been characterized by lowefiiciency owing to the back thrust exerted on the rotor during theperiod of combustion and the angle at which the forward thrust has beentransmitted to the rotor during the period of combustion. Devices ofthis type as heretofore proposed have also been unsatisfactory for otherreasons, among which may be noted the excessive rate of movementrequired of the hinged piston with respect to the rotor as it moved intoor out of the combustion chamber whereby a rather sharp limitation wasimposed upon the rate of revolution of the rotor to avoid an undue totalspeed of the hinged piston; the combustion chambers have been so shapedthat it has been difficult if possible for the hinged piston to followclosely the contour of the combustion chamber so that gas leakage,unsatisfactory scavenging, etc. have resulted; the hinged pistons havebeen diflicult to lubricate; etc.

It is an object of this invention to provide a rotating power unit ofthe type referred to which is possessed of higher efficiency thanobtained by units of this type as heretofore proposed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved power unit ofthe type characterized wherein the pistons are so constructed andassociated with the rotor that minimum back thrust is developed on therotor during the period of combustion and the forward thrust generatedon the piston is so transmitted to the rotor as to develop maximumdriving torque.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rotatingpower unit of the type characterized which is so constructed that therate of movement of the piston with respect tothe rotor is such that atno time is its absolute rate of movement much greater than the rate ofrevolution of the rotor, so that the movement of the piston with respectto the rotor into and out of the combustion chamber does not impose alimitation upon the speed at which the rotor may be driven.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rotatingpower unit of the type characterized wherein the piston is caused toclosely follow the contour of the combustion chamber so that leakage ofgases is avoided, good scavenging action is obtained and efi'icienttransmission to the rotor of the force generated by the expanding gasesof combustion is secured.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rotatingpower unit of the type characterized which facilitates properlubrication of the parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rotatingpower unit of the type characterized which is so constructed that suchlateral thrust as exists on the rotor is at all times substantiallybalanced.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rotatingpower unit of the type characterized which is so constructed that theimpulses derived from the combustion of the fuel occurv at suchfrequency that the effect of a nearly constant rotating torque isobtained.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rotatingpower unit which is simple in construction, inexpensive to maintain, andeflicient in operation.

Other objects will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention is capable of receiving a, variety of mechanicalexpressions one of which is shown rather diagrammatically on theaccompanying drawings, parts like valves and their actuators. manifolds,ignition system, timing system and the like, which are more or lessconventional in internal combustion power units, having been omitted ormerely indicated in the interest of a clearer illustration of the novelfeatures which characterize the present invention. Hence it is to beexpressly understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustrationonly and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of theinvention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

Referring in detail to the drawings wherein the same referencecharacters are employed to designate corresponding parts in bothfigures,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section transversely of the posed with respect toits corresponding combustion chamber l8 that movement of thecorresponding piston 28 outwardly through the aperture 21 is initiatedat the instant when the extremity 49 of the piston reaches the beginning50 of the curve defining the inner peripheral contour of the combustionchamber l8, it being assumed that the rotor is rotating in the directionindicated by the arrow Each cusp 31 is also so shaped that the extremity49 of the piston as it moves radially outward is maintained in closecontact with the inner surface of the wall [9 throughout the excursionof the piston through the chamber. Thus as the piston movescircumferentially with the rotor, it moves gradually into the chamberuntil it has reached the midpoint in the length of the chamber, afterwhich the piston is withdrawn gradually through the aperture 21, butwith the extremity 49 continuing to remain in contact vn'th said innersurface, until it reaches the end of the combustion chamber. Owing tothe character of'the curvature of the surface [9 as above explained themovement of the piston is substantially uniform throughout, the pistonat no time having an abrupt or sudden movement, and its rate of movementinto and out of the combustion chamber is so gradual that it does notadd to the circumferential motion of the piston With the rotor asufficient amount to require that a'limit be imposed upon the speed ofrevolution of the rotor in order that the absolute-rate of movement ofthe piston shall not be excessive.

As th piston moves past the fuel inlet valve 4| a suction is created atthe left-hand end of the combustion chamber as viewed in .the drawings,and fuel is drawn into the combustion cham. ber by the suction createdby the rotating piston for such time as the inlet fuel valve remainsopen. -While suction may be relied upon entirely for drawing fuel intothe combustion chamber, the fuel may be supplied under pressure andinjected in-well known ways if preferred. When the piston has moved pastthe air inlet valve 43, the latter is opened to admit compressed airinto the combustion chamber, the air being at such a pressure as toobtain the desired compression in the mixture of fuel and air beforeignition. The fuel is then ignited by a spark from the spark plug 45 andthe resulting explosion develops a driving impulse on the face 52 of thepiston. This pres- .sure at the face of the piston is applied throughthe pivot in 29 to the rotor and in a direction which is nearlytangential to its peripheral wall, driving the :rotor forwardly in thedirection of the arrow 5|. The combustion space increases in radialdimension until the mid-point of the combustion chamber is'reached bythe extremity 49 of the piston, after which the combustion chamberdecreases in radial dimension as the piston 2B, is withdrawn through theaperture 21, until it is flush with the periphery of the rotor when theend 53 of the combustion chamber is reached. Throughout its excursionthrough the combustion chamber the piston fills the cross sectionthereof because in radial planes it is of the same size and shape as thechamber. The cam follower 30, when the piston is withdrawn from thechamber, enters the dwell 38, and during this time the piston issubstantially entirely within the hollow interior of the drum, with itsside wall filling the aperture 27, at which time lubrication of thepiston and associated parts is facilitated. Then lwhenthe cam follower30 reaches the next cusp 31, the piston'is moved into the next chamberl8 and the cycle is repeated.

When the piston leaves the combustion chamber it uncovers theexhaustport 39 so that the burnt gases in the combustion chamber may escapetherethrough, and when the next piston 28 makes its excursion throughthis combustion hamber, the burnt gases are swept ahead of it andthrough the exhaust port 39 until the piston passes the exhaust port.

In the compressor 46, 48, which as before noted is identical inconstruction with the combustion unit under description except for thevalves, the pistons 28 are passing through corresponding cycles ofmovement, but here the suction of the moving piston is drawing air intoeach chamber l8, after which the succeeding piston sweeps the air aheadof it and places said air under compression until, at the properpressure, the valve is opened to p rmit the compressed air to flow intothe manifold leading to the air inlet manifold of the power unit.

As the parts of the power unit are surrounded on all sides by air, thrate of heat loss from the walls of the'unit is relatively large so thatair cooling is ,facilitated. However, if preferred a water jacket (notshown) may be Provided for the combustion chambers.

Escape of gases between the cooperating rotatable and stationarysurfaces of the unit may be prevented in any suitable way. Asillustrated more particularly in Fig. 2, the end walls 24 and 25 of therotor overlap the side walls 2| of the combustion chambers as shown at54, and any suitable acking may be provided between these cooperatingrotatable and stationary surfaces. Appropriate packing may also beprovided at each piston so as to prevent escape of gases from thecombustion chambers into the interior of the rotor.

As before noted, each iston is withdrawn into the interior of the rotorfor a, period before its movement into the next combustion chamber. Thisfacilitates lubricating the piston, and it is to be understood that anysuitable provision for lubricating the pistons and their associated artsmay be provided.

It will be noted that owing to the shape of the combustion chambersmovement of the pistons at all times is gradual and substantiallyuniform. Hence there is no sudden change of speed in the movement of thepistons or period at which their movement is much greater than themovement of the rotor 'to which they are attached. Throughout the periodwhen the expanding gases are exerting a driving force on the piston,there is no surface on which said gases exert a pressure in thedirection opposite to that in which the rotor is rotating, and thereforethe driving torque is not diminished by back pressure. Furthermore, thepressure on the piston delivered through the piston to its pivot at theperiphery of the rotor is acting very nearly in the direction of thetangent to the rotor, so that the component of force at right angles tothe tangent is at all times relatively low, a fact which meansrelatively high efliciency in developing the rotating torque. As beforenoted a power unit embodying the present invention preferably has aneven number of combustion chambers arranged symmetrically around theaxis of the shaft, so that there are diametrically opposed combustionchambers in operation at the same time. As the timing is such that thesame point in the cycle of operation of each pair of opposed chambers isform driving torque;

reachedsimultaneously, the. component offforce at right angles to thetangent ateach; chambenls exactly balanced by a like component acting;in the opposite direction fromthe opposite combustion chamber. Hencethereisv never aresultant sidethrust on the shaft.

In the form showntherev are four combustion chambers having fourpistonss'o that there are four simultaneous drivingrlmpulse's impartedto the rotor each time the fourpistons come into cooperativerelationship with: the four combusti'on chambers, producing sixteen.driving impulses per revolution. Hence the driving impulses not onlyoccur symmetrically around the periphery of the rotor but a plurality oftimes per revolutionso that by using a suitable numtons it is possibletonearly approximate a uni- Some of the advantages of my invention maybe had by using an odd ber of combustion chambers-and cooperatingpisnumber of combustion chambers, or; even using only a singlecombustion chamber, but I prefer to use an even number of combustionchambers, and while two combustion chambers may be sufficient for somepurposes, I prefer to use four or more combustion chambers so as toshorten the period between the application of successive drivingimpulses to the shaft.

It will therefore be perceived that the present invention provides animproved internal combustion rotatingpower "unit which satisfies eachand allof the objects above-set out.

While the embodimentei" the invention illustrated on the drawings hasbeendescribed with considerable particularity it is to be expresslyunderstood that the invention is not restricted thereto, as theinvention-is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions,as will now be apparent to those skilled-in the art, while changes maybe made in details of construction without departing from the presentinvention. It is to be understood that the engine is to be providedwithrsuitab'le means for operating the valves at proper intervals, forenergizing the spark plugs at proper intervals, for lubricating the"relatively movable cooperating parts, for packing the joints betweenrelatively removable cooperating parts, etc., as would be applied by oneskilled in the art in" carrying out the foregoing principles, thedrawings being for-the purpose of'illustrating cliagrammatically'the'features ofnovelty rather than all of the details of construction andaccessories that would normally be applied to such a unit by: oneskilled in the art. Reference is therefore to be hadto the, appendedclaims fora definition of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an internal combustion power unit the combination of a rotor, agenerally triangularshaped piston pivotally mounted at an apex on theperiphery of said rotor for applying thrust,

thereto, said pistonhaving its explosion receiving bustion' chambermounted on said support in circumferential alignment with-the peripheryof said rotor, said combustion chamber in circum fe'rential crosssection having its radially outer wall gradually curvedcircumferentiallyand symmetrically from an intermediate point to'bothextremities with the altitude of said outer wall above the innerperiphery of said chamber first increasing and then decreasing-bysubstantiallycqual amounts for equal-distances in the direc- 8 tion.ofithe length of;saidchamber.aoamlfollower oarriedrby a: second: apexofit s on 94115113 single cam; means cooperating: with the centric}?lower'to move the. piston into andoutofthe'com busti-on chamber whilemaintaining, continuous contact; with said outer wall.

2. Inan internal combustion: power unitthe combination of a rotor, agenerally triangularshaped piston; pivotally mounted at an. apexon theperiphery of, said rotor for applying thrust thereto, said piston havingits explosion receiving face at all times approximately normal to thetangent to: the periphery of said rotor at. said pivotal. mounting. astationary; support, 211.combustion chamber .mounted on. said. supportin circumferential alignment with the periphery of said rotor, saidcombustion chamber having a circumferentially curved radially outerwallwhose altitude above theinner periphery of the chamber first graduallyincreases and then gradually-decreases symmetrically with respect to itsmedial radial plane, the increments and decrements: of altitude being.substantially equal; for equal..dis:-.- dances circumferentially of thechamber acam follower carried by a second apex of the:pistom and asingle cammeans of the same contour as said outer wall cooperating.withthe. cam follower toxmove the. piston into and. out of the:combusti-onchamberin.continuous gas sealing relationship to'said outerwall.

the tangentv tosaidperiphery at saidv pivotal mounting so that theforcegenerated at. the face of the piston by the combustion'oi therfuelil'sapplied to said rotor nearly,tangentiallyth'ereof, a stationary support,a. combustion chamber hav ing a circumferentially and symmetricallycurved radially outer wall mounted on said support-in circumferentialalignment. with the periphery of said. rotor with the altitude ofsaidouter wall above. the inner periphery of said chamber first increasingand then decreasing by substantially equalamounts for equal distancesiinthe. direction of the length-of said chamber, acam follower carried by.the piston, and cam means: cooperating with the cam follower to movethe" piston into andout of thecombustionchamber'in'com tinuouscooperative relationship-with said outer wall, the major. portion ofsaid pistonwhen moved out of said combustion chamber "being exposed for:lubrication in said first named chamber;

4. In an internal. combustion power unit the combination of a rotorhaving-a hollow-interior zand providediin its peripheraliwalliwithanaper ture, a. generally-triangular shaped ipist'ion. pivotallymountedat an apex in-said aperture :for applying thrust theretoand having aside;-.waii adapted to fill saidaperture, said pistonvhaving itsexplosion receivingaface approximately at right angles to; the tangentto said peripheral wallat said pivotal ,mounting, astationary support, acombustion chamber mounted on said support in circumferential alignmentwith the peripheryof said rotor, said combustion chamber having acircumferenti'ally curved radially outer wall whose altitude abovetheinner peripheryof the chamber first graduallyin'creases andthengraduallydecreases by proximateiyequal amounts for equal distancescircumferentially of the chamber, a cam follower carried by a secondapex of the piston, and cam means cooperating with the cam follower tomove the piston gradually and progressively first into and then out ofthe combustion chamber in continuous cooperative relationship with saidouter wall, said piston when moved out of said combustion chamber beinglargely exposed in the hollow interior of said rotor.

5. In an internal combustion power unit the combination of a rotor, agenerally-triangularshaped piston pivotally mounted at an apex on theperiphery of said rotor for applying thrust thereto, said piston havingits explosion receiving face at all times approximately normal to thetangent to the periphery of said rotor at said pivotal mounting, astationary support, a combustion chamber having a circumferentially andsymmetrically curved radially outer wall mounted on said support incircumferential alignment with the periphery of said rotor with thealtitude of said outer wall above the inner periphery of said chamberfirst increasing and then decreasing by substantially equal amounts forequal distances in the direction of the length of said chamber, a camfollower carried by a second apex of the piston, and a single cam meanscooperating with the cam follower to move the piston into and out of thecombustion chamber with its radially outer extremity following saidouter wall, said cam means comprising a pair of cam plates disposedexteriorly of said rotor one at each side of said rotor and said camfollower projecting through the opposite sides of said rotor intocooperative relationship with said cam plates.

6. In an internal combustion power unit the combination of a rotor, aplurality of generallytriangular-shaped pistons pivoted at an apex onthe periphery of said rotor and disposed symmetrically around saidperiphery, each of said 'pistons having an explosion receiving faceapproximately at right angles to the tangent to said periphery at saidpivot and exerting a thrust on said rotor approximately in the directionof said tangent, a stationary support, a plurality of combustionchambers equal in number to said pistons mounted on said stationarysupport and disposed symmetrically around the periphery of said rotor,each of said combustion chambers having a gradually curved radiallyouter wall which is symmetrical with respect to a radial plane midway ofthe length of the chamber and has the altitude of its curved wall fromits inner periphery first increasing and then decreasing bysubstantially equal amounts for equal circumferential distances, each ofsaid pistons being provided with a cam follower at a second apexthereof, and a single cam means cooperating with said cam followers andadapted to move all of said pistons into and out of all of said chamberssimultaneously with the outer extremities of the pistons following saidouter walls.

7. In an internal combustion power unit the combination of a rotor, aplurality of generallytriangular-shaped pistons pivoted at an apex, onthe periphery of said rotor and disposed symmetrically around saidperiphery, each of said pistons having an explosion receiving faceapproximately at right angles to the tangent to said periphery at saidpivot and exerting a thrust on said rotor approximately in the directionof said tangent, a stationary support, a plurality of combustionchambers equal in number to said pistons mounted on said stationarysupport and disposed symmetrically around the periphery of said rotor,each of said chambers having a radially outer curved peripheral wallwhose altitude above the inner periphery of the chamber first increasesand then decreases by substantially equal amounts for equal distances inthe direction of the length of the chamber, each of said pistons beingprovided with a cam follower, and cam means cooperating with said camfollowers and adapted to move all of said pistons into and out of all ofsaid chambers simultaneously with the outer extremities of said pistonsfollowing said outer walls.

8. In an internal combustion power unit the combination of a rotor, aplurality of pistons approximately triangular in circumferential crosssection and substantially rectangular in radial cross section pivoted atan apex on the periphery of said rotor and disposed symmetrically aroundsaid periphery for applying thrust to said rotor, each of said pistonshaving an explosion receiving face approximately at right angles to thetangent to said periphery at said pivot, a stationary support, aplurality of combustion'chambers equal in number to said pistons mountedon said stationary support and disposed symmetrically around theperiphery of said rotor, said chamber and pistons being arranged aroundthe. axis of said rotor to provide balanced forces in both vertical andhorizontal directions, each of said chambers having a circumferentiallycurved radially outer wall which is symmetrical with respect to a,medial radial plane and has the altitude of its outer wall above itsinner periphery first increasing and then decreasing by substantiallyequal amounts for equal circumferential distances, each of said pistonsbeing provided with a cam follower, and a, single cam means cooperatingwith said cam followers and adapted to move all of said pistons into andout ofall of said chambers simultaneously with the outer extremities ofsaid pistons following said outer walls. r v

9. In an internal combustion power unit the combination of a rotor inthe form of a drum provided in its peripheral wall with aperturesdisposed symmetrically around said periphery, a stationary support, apiston for applying thrust to said rotor having an approximatelytriangular circumferential cross section pivoted at an apex in eachaperture and having an explosion receiving face approximately at rightangles to the tangent to said rotor at said pivot, said piston having aside wall which fills the aperture when the piston is withdrawn into thedrum, a plurality of combustion chambers equal in number to said pistonsmounted on said stationary support and disposed symmetrically around theperiphery of said rotor, each of said chambers having acircumferentially curved radially outer wall whose altitude above theinner periphery of the chamber first gradually increases and thengradually decreases circumferentially of the chamber sub stantiallyequal amounts for equal distances in the direction of the length of thechamber, each of said pistons being provided with a cam follower atanother of its apexes, and a single cam means cooperating with said camfollowers and. adapted to move all of said pistons into and out of allof said chambers simultaneously with said pistons having the third apexfollowing said outer walls.

19. In an internal combustion power unit the combination of a rotor, aplurality of pistons pivoted t the periphery of said rotor for applyingthrust thereto and disposed symmetrically around having an explosionreceiving face remote from saidfpivot and approximately at right anglesto the tangent to said rotor at said pivot, a stationary support, aplurality of combustion chambers equal in number to said pistons mountedon said stationary support and disposed symmetrically around theperiphery of said rotor, each of said chamber having a curved outer wallwhose altitude aboveits inner periphery first increases and thendecreases by substantially equal amounts for equal distances in thedirection of the length of said chamber, each of said pistonsbeingprovided with a cam follower at a second apex thereof, anda single cammeans cooperating with all of said cam followers and adapted to move allof said pistons into and out of all of said chamberssimultaneously withthe outer extremities of the pistons following said outer walls, saidcam means comprising a 'pair of cam plates disposed exteriorly of saidrotor one at each side .of said rotor'and said'cam followers projectingthrough both lateral walls of said rotor into co-, operativerelationship with said cam plates. v

i ll. In an internal combustion power unit the combination of a rotorprovided with an even number of pistons 'pivotedi'n the 'peripheral wallof said rotor, a stationary supporaan even number of combustionchambers, each of said pistons being 'ofgenerally triangular iormpivoted at an apex and having an explosion receiving face-remote fromsaid pivot and approximately at right "angles to the tangent tosaid'rotor at said pivot, said chambers being'the same-in 'numberas saidpistons and carried bysa'ijd stationary support and disposedsymmetricallyaroundthe periphery of said rotor, each of said pornbustionchambers having a curved radially; outer peripheral wall whose curvatureis such that apiston maintained in contact wtih said curved wallmovesfsubs'tan- 'tia'lly equal increments "into or out of the cha'm herfor equal increments of movement of rotation, each of said pistons beingprovided with a cam follower, and cam means cocperatingwith saidfollowers and adapted to move diametrically -op+ posed pistons into andout of diametrically opposed combustion chambers simultaneously; saidcam means cooperating with said pistons to retain the outer extremity ofeach piston in contact with a peripheralwall throughout the excursion ofa piston through a combustion chamber.

assau t 7 J v 12. In an internal combustion power unit the combinationof- 'a rotor provided with an even number of pistons pivoted inapertures in the tionchambers, equal in number to said pistons,

carried by said stationary support and disposed symmetrically around theperiphery of said rotor, each of saidcombustion chambers having a curvedradially outer peripheral wall" whose curvature is such that a pistonmaintained in contact with said curved wall moves substantially equalincrements into or out of the chamber for equal increments of movementof rotation, each of said pistons being provided with a cam follower atanother of its apexes, a single cam means cooperating-with all of' saidfollowers and adapted to move a pair of diametrically opposed pistonsinto and out of a pair of diametrically opposed'combustion chamberssimultaneously, said cam means cooperating with said pistons 'to retaina third apex on each piston in contact with a peripheral wall throughoutthe excursion of the piston through the combustion chamber.

' -o}. B. SUMMV' ERS.

REFERENCES Curio The following references are of record in the fileof-this patent:

UNITED sTA'rEs PATENTS Number Name Date 4 115,854 Henderson e June .13,188.71 732,404 Foster Junev .30, 1903 1,202,828 Ginn Oct. 31., 19-161,225,056 Riggsetal. May .8, .1917 1,605,912 Barker Nov. 9, I926 51,607,505 Bentley Nov. 16,1926 1,750,502 Baker. Mar. .11, 19.301,877,250 Meyer .Sept. .13., v1932 I FOREIGN PATENTS 7 Number CountryvDate 15,040 -Great'Britain ..J.une 2.7, 1911 254,384 Great Britain vJuly1, 1926

